On June 15-16, 2016, the “East Asian Partners Dialogue on Latin American Studies – Consensus and Cooperation” International Conference was held at the Baoshan Campus, Shanghai University. This conference aims to “set up a platform, construct a network, converge consensus, establish a mechanism, and promote collaboration”, laying foundations for the establishment of the platform of Latin American Studies in East Asia and enabling the connection of an academic research network between East Asia and Latin America.

Mr. Wu Baiyi, Director-General, Institute of Latin American Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) chaired the opening ceremony and delivered a speech; Ding Shan, Counselor, Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chen Dongxiao, President of Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), and Wen Xueguo, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Academy also addressed the event respectively.

In his speech, Director-General Wu pointed out that as two regions concentrate developing economies, East Asia and Latin America are witnessing growing economic and trade co-operations and people-to-people contacts. In the future, in the process of joint construction, the active participation of academic circles, including their guidance in policy formulation, will play a unique constructive role in the formation of social consensus. Ding updated the current development of Sino-Latin American ties, pointing out that under joint efforts, relations have moved onto a fast track while the level and extent of co-operation in all fields is constantly expanding and deepening. Therefore, it’s more pressing to strengthen humanistic exchange, especially the exchange between think tanks. In his address, Chen Dongxiao noted that in the context of the increasing pressure of economic downturn and growing challenge in structural reform, both sides must constantly tap the potential for cooperation, borrow experience from each other, further expand the channels of cooperation, and reinforce its foundation. Wen Xueguo stressed in his address that understanding between East Asia and Latin American will deepen, as both regions are facing similar challenges in various fields amidst a complex and changing international political landscape and growing economic uncertainty.

Attendees of the conference conducted in-depth communication and discussion centering on “the current state of Latin American Studies in the East Asian region”, “prospect for the cross-regional cooperation of Latin American Studies in the East Asian region”, and the “East Asian Partners Dialogue on Latin American Studies” collaborative mechanism. They held that in the face of a complex and changeable global political and economic climate, the two sides are confronted with similar challenges in advancing economic and social development, adjusting economic structure, improving international competitiveness, enhancing technological innovation, protecting the environment and responding to climate change, with even more intersecting interests. East Asian and Latin American academic circles as well as public policy think tanks should assume the responsibility of establishing a mechanism for Asia-Latin America academic dialogue, launching the collaboration process at the earliest time. It must serve the needs of government, industry and society and play a key role in converging thought and guiding consensus, to promote the development of Asia-Latin America cooperation with significant depth.

On this basis, the Cooperation Initiative for Latin-American Studies Organization in East Asia (Shanghai Consensus) was adopted at the conference to: 1) Establish a mechanism for dialogue between Latin-American studies think tanks in East Asia, developing into regular and sustained interaction and exchange, and creating more cooperation opportunities; 2) The dialogue mechanism should strive to exert the initiative of academic research institutions, share experience in cooperation with Latin America, put forward the key areas of cooperation between East Asia and Latin America, and provide intellectual support for the Forum for East Asia–Latin America Cooperation; 3) The dialogue mechanism of Latin-American studies think tanks in East Asia will hold an annual membership meeting, which will be hosted by all members in rotation in principle; the theme and schedule will be decided through negotiation between the host and related members; 4) The dialogue mechanism of Latin-American studies think tanks will be connected to the Asian Studies network in Latin America and other international academic networks in due time, ultimately evolving into a part of the Forum for East Asia–Latin America Cooperation.  

The conference was organized by the Institute of Latin American Studies (ILAS), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), and Shanghai Academy. Over 60 representatives from Latin-American Studies organizations in Japan, Korea, Thailand, Russia, Australia and Peru, as well as provinces, municipalities and regions across China attended the conference.

Text by Shi Leilei

Photo by Zha Jianguo